2208 / Varget powder in a ammunition pressure test barrel that we made for a powder maker and I received load data back....31.8gr. was considered a max working load with a 107 SMK's. Just for reference for ya.

I run my Dasher at 31.7-31.8 with a 105 Hybrid, Hornady Match and Lapua Scenars. All of them shoot exceptionally well.

To the op.....having the bullets touch or being jammed into the rifling doesn't guarantee better groups. Trying running them off the lands. I start at .010" typically.

Also it being a button rifled barrel....your barrel might not have a uniform twist. If this is the case it makes the barrels more temperamental as to what it will like. If this is the case try a different make bullet like Sierra or Hornady etc....

Have the muzzles crown checked for any damage. You might not see it with the naked eye but even a slight amount of damage can cause accuracy problems as well.

Brad Y wrote:Interesting Frank, most dashers I know of use around 36gr h4350, 33gr varget and 31.5 or thereabouts of h4985 all for around 3000fps.

As I do, but I wonder what the actual pressure is that we are running at? I would say it is likely that we are lucky we are using strong brass in strong actions. I don’t know if I would want to try it in Remington brass in an old Omark action.

Mine was a plain unbushed firing pin rem 700, krieger 236 barrel 31.6 2206h cci br4 and 105 hybrid. 3030fps and it used to hammer. Barrel went south after 1000 rounds and from memory the throat grew pretty fast too. Does indicate it was warm but man it shot!

Brad Y wrote:Interesting Frank, most dashers I know of use around 36gr h4350, 33gr varget and 31.5 or thereabouts of h4985 all for around 3000fps.

As I do, but I wonder what the actual pressure is that we are running at? I would say it is likely that we are lucky we are using strong brass in strong actions. I don’t know if I would want to try it in Remington brass in an old Omark action.

On a similar note....we just made a ammunition pressure test barrel in 6PPC. Hornady is going to do the testing for us. The original spec. for the PPC was around 3150fps. with a 65-68gr. bullet but most of the bench shooters are running them up to 3500fps. It's going to be interesting to see what the pressure data comes back at!